HS BOYS SOCCER: MHS slips past Lubbock Coronado, 2-1

Published 4:09 pm, Saturday, February 1, 2014

The Midland High boys soccer team notched its first win in District 2-5A play edging Lubbock Coronado 2-1 on Saturday at Grande Communications Stadium.

The bulk of the damage for the Bulldogs was done in the early going, as MHS dominated much of the first half. The Mustangs played solid defense, but the Bulldogs were on the attack for most of the first 40 minutes, and were just too relentless for Coronado to hold up.

Junior midfield Homero Vasquez scored both goals for Midland High as his first came in the 23rd minute. After a corner kick sailed long, a shot on goal by Ricky Munoz was saved and deflected, and Vasquez was there to knock it in.

"I just saw the ball right in front of the goal on that one," Vasquez said. "When you see an opportunity like that you have to take advantage of it."

The goal that ended up deciding the game came with seven minutes left in the first half. After a stellar pass from Alex VonHolle, Vasquez bounced the ball past diving Coronado goalkeeper Noah Gaona, who was kept on his toes by the Bulldogs for most of the game, for a 2-0 MHS lead.

The Bulldogs were a little sluggish out of the gate in the second half, as Coronado had two free kicks in Midland High's half in the first five minutes. But both free kicks sailed high of the crossbar.

Coronado did, though, cut the lead in half on a goal by Connor Dean that came on a free kick from about 35 yards out in the game's waning seconds.

"We could have picked it up a little better in the second half," said Midland High head coach Warren Cottle. "But we're getting better. Each game we're getting better."

The Bulldogs' next game is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday at San Angelo Central, and Vasquez said they are looking to build on Saturday's victory.

"We're starting to play well together," Vasquez said "And I think we'll have a good rest of the season."